Knights domain, a variation of chess

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a modified chess game providing a method for isolating and focusing the more intense tactical use of the knight, thus improving a player&#39;s proficiency in their use and improving the game of chess game overall. The rules have been simplified resulting in a simpler and shorter game. A player&#39;s total arsenal consists of eight knights, three pawns and one king, forcing intensive use of the knights. This in turn improves a player&#39;s skill level and coordinated use of the knights when playing chess normally. This inventive training method is suitable for beginner or chess master. Enabling this is a permanently demarked area on the new board called the ‘kings vale’ governing the kings movements while providing limited shelter to an opponent piece and is the area for ‘knighting’ or adding knights to a players pieces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is cross referenced to provisional patent application number 60/710,738 filed Aug. 24, 2005

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

The present invention is a new game board and a new method of playing a variation of chess, which is a tool and training ground for improving proficiency in the use of the knights. A players ‘knights game’ when playing normal chess is thus elevated. This invention reduced the complexity of the rules, by eliminating, castling, playing pieces namely, the queens, rooks, bishops and most of the pawns on either side, while operating on a new playing surface of 9 rows and 8 files, totaling 72 squares of alternating colors, with simpler rules and thus completing in a shorter time. There is a demarked restricted area of play constituting three boundaries and the fourth being the starting rank at each player's edge of the board. This area of 2 rows and 3 files encloses 6 squares, called the ‘Kings vale” houses the King and limits his movements. The game is played with 8 knights, 3 pawns and 1 king per player. The objective remains as in normal chess is to checkmate the opponents' king. The movements of the pieces, knights, kings and pawns, are all according to the traditional rules of chess and with variation in the rules and according to the new surface. A new rule called knighting is introduced whereby a pawn who arrives at the opposite end of the board on the last row and within the kings vale is replaced by a knight of the same color.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of chess is well known. Typically it is played on a checker-like board having eight squares in each row, which are alternately light and dark colored. There are eight horizontal and eight vertical rows, so as to provide a total of 64 squares on the conventional chess board. Each player in the conventional chess game starts with eight pieces, a KING, a QUEEN, two each of a BISHOP, KNIGHT and ROOK, and eight PAWNS. The object of the game is to check mate the opponents KING, that is, to place the KING in such a position that it cannot avoid being taken by the opponent's next move. The various other pieces on the game board are provided for both offensive and defensive protection of the KING.

A peculiarity of chess is the different manner in which the different playing pieces move, with the legendary movement of the knights being peculiar in that they move according to a specific limiting pattern which allows them to jump over other pieces to an unoccupied square within the pattern. This peculiar movement of the knights have made them a very effective playing piece, and in the hands of a master can be devastating in defensive and attacking maneuvers, as this is the only playing piece in chess, aside from common pawns, with which a game can be opened, and the piece used in an initial move known as an opening move. There are various specific knight openings and knight endings, which skills forms a necessary part of any players arsenal. To gain proficiency in use of the knights a player normally has to play several complete games and thus gather experience with the game as a whole and with the knights in relation to all the other playing pieces.

The present invention relates to a modified chess board and game rules, which game provides a training device whereby a player has to focus on the use of his/her knights. This in turn, improves their proficiency and efficient use of the knight during a normal chess game, and thereby improving the players overall game.

The modification, is a complete game in itself, it simplifies the game and completes in a shorter time than conventional chess, which are considerations in normal chess, maintains the prowess of the knight while using similar playing strategy and tactics, and allows the invention to be used as a training simulator for improving the use of the knights whether it be beginner or chess master and thus elevate the level of chess play universally.

PRIOR ART

Various modifications of the chess game have been proposed to make the game more complex and challenging or for introducing the game to children. Examples of such games are U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,060 to Rihilsoma, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,756 to Gribbon, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,285 to Kane, U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,201 to Harper et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,326 to Bialek, U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,787 to Miccio, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,583 to Sadounichvili et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,261 to Kahlil.

However, whereas some of those games have been directed to increasing the complexity of basic chess so as to present a more challenging environment for experienced chess players, and others for beginners and those wishing to learn chess, none provides a training simulator for the development of specific playing piece suited to beginner and master alike. This invention, addresses this shortcoming, simultaneously providing a tool for playing piece development, suitable for various level of players skill from beginner to master. Another intention of the invention is to provide a modified game and playing surface providing for a much quicker game with reduced complexity, while offering a similar challenge as in normal chess.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new game board and method for playing chess which serves as a tool and training ground for improving proficiency in the use of the knights, and thus improves a players ‘knights game’ when playing normal chess. In so doing the present invention reduced the complexity of the rules and modifies the playing surface, providing a quicker and more intense tactical game experience than provided for in normal chess. The objective of the game, as in normal chess, is to checkmate the king. However unlike normal chess the king's movement is limited in scope, and in an area know as the ‘king's vale’. The new demarked playing surface playing surface, allows the introduction of a new rule called ‘knighting’ affording a player's pawn having arrived at the opponent's last rank and within the kings vale, the option of adding a knight(s) on to the playing surface of the board. The en passant rule is kept and there are no castling provisions as in normal chess. The game is played without queens, bishops or rooks resulting in a much shorter and less complex game. Each player has eight knights to manage on a modified surface which focuses the intensity of the use of the playing piece and which challenge improves their proficient handling of knights and their coordination, which in turn improves their normal chess game and thereby the universal standard of the game.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1. Top view of the playing surface of the board, showing 72 squares made up of 8 rows and 9 files and showing the kings squares with king on color.

FIG. 2. Top view of four boundaries of an area, called the ‘kings vale. This is an enclosing an area of six squares, co-located on the players first row.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 2 thereof, a new game board and method of playing a chess game, designed to improve a players use of the knight in a chess game embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention. It is preferred that this modification of chess be played as a board game but alternatively, it may be played utilizing a computer.

More specifically, it will be noted that the new modified board and method of playing Knights Domain chess game comprises of a rectangular game board having a playing surface with nine rows and eight files, totaling seventy two alternately colored squares, FIG. 1.

There is demarked area, located on the playing surface of the board, having four sides FIG. 2, three of which are marked within the playing area and the fourth boundary formed by the first row of a player's home edge of the board, forming six squares within this enclosed area called the kings vale

The objective remains to checkmate the opponent's king.

Playing pieces consist of eight knights, three pawns and one king per side. Pieces move conventionally and according to the rules of normal chess. The king's movement is regulated to one square per play as in normal chess however he cannot venture outside of the demarked area. Each player begins and proceeds as in normal chess, however with a preponderance of knights available to contestants, the effect of the knight is controlling in the game. A playing piece located within the opponents ‘kings vale’ may only be taken or removed by a playing piece within the vale. A pawn who has arrived at his opponents' first row and within the vale may convert the pawn to a knight, this is called ‘knighting’ and in adding a knight to the board reinforces the knight controlled game. Three pawns are located immediately, ahead of and to the left and right squares immediately in front of the king and within the king's vale. Pawns move as in normal chess, including en passant rules, with the variation of knighting. Play unable to complete by checkmate is considered a drawn game. Castling has been eliminated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. For example, the knights may be replaced by another playing piece, allowing the game to become a training simulator for bishops or rooks and the pawns rearranged to effect same or modified to more players or increased to a different number of squares or combinations of limiting areas or playing pieces, focusing the use and development of a specific piece or pieces. 

1. A new chess game, board and modified playing rules providing an intensive playing platform focusing the skills used in playing with the knights, which improves a player's use of their knights and thus improving their overall game and elevating the standard of chess as a whole. (FIG. 1) A new playing surface of 8 rows and 9 files, for a total of 72 squares per board. Each opponent has 8 knights, 3 pawns and 1 king for a total of 12 pieces each. Each playing color has their peculiar side of the board so that unlike traditional chess, when a player changes color, the board has to be rotated so that, the king always starts on a similarly colored center square on the first row.
 2. A depicted area on each end, with three sides and a boundary against the players starting row, forming a permanent area of six squares, called the ‘kings vale’ (FIG. 2) The kings can only moye within the restricted area called the ‘kings vale’. As in normal chess the king is limited to one square, on a playing turn, in any direction. All other playing pieces may move unrestrictedly in the area. An opposing piece within an opponents restricted area or ‘kings vale’ can only be captured by an opponent themselves located within the area or vale. Three pawns starting position are within second rank and within the marked area or vale. Rules called ‘knighting’, whereby any pawn reaching the opposite end row and within the opposite kings vale, becomes knighted and enters the game at that square as a knight. 